Anemic poll numbers barred him from the debate stage, but Hurd also fell short of another requirement by declining to pledge his support for the eventual Republican nominee: “I will not sign a blood oath to Donald Trump.”

O’Rourke wants more debates, but Abbott has indicated this is the only one he is willing to do before the November election.

The governor said Tuesday he has agreed to debate O’Rourke, his Democratic opponent, on Sept. 30 in the Rio Grande Valley.